Highchair with attachable accessories

ABSTRACT

A highchair tray system comprising a tray; a plurality of dishware, where the dishware attaches to the tray for use; a plurality of utensils, where each utensils includes an opening; and a plurality of cords, where each cord is attached to the tray at a first end and includes an attachment at a second end to engage the opening of one of the utensils. The cords may detach from the tray. Additionally, the dishware may be detachable from the tray, where the dishware screws on, attaches with magnets or snaps into place during use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/477,242 filed on Apr. 20,2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a highchair that includes a feedingtray that provides attachable utensils and dishware. The utensils anddishware of the present invention are secured to the tray of thehighchair to prevent the dropping of the utensils and dishware when thehighchair is in use.

2. Description of Related Art

It's well known that many infants utilize highchairs for feedingpurposes during their formative years. The use of the highchair allowsthe parent to securely place the infant in the chair and provide a smalltable or eating tray for the infant to consume their foods. Use of thehighchair helps to limit the mobility of the infant during a meal andprovides a separate table tray for the infant to consume their foods.Many times infants are provided with smaller bowls dishware and utensilsthat's suitable for their hands during the feeding. However many infantswhile consuming their meals in a highchair spill, drop or occasionallysimply toss the dishware and/or utensils from the tray of the highchair.Such incidents are common and provide an extra chore for the caregiverin cleaning up the mess that results in the spillage that usually occursdue to the spilling of the dishware or utensils. Consequently, it wouldbe advantageous to have utensils or dishware that could be secured tothe highchair in a manner to avoid spillage.

Examples of prior art that discloses attachable dishware include U.S.Pat. No. 4,908,066 which discloses an approved feeding tray for ahighchair which is provided with a bowl attached thereto that preventsthe bowl from spilling or slipping off the tray during the meal. Anotherexample of a child's highchair of the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No.5,975,628 that discloses a tray for a child's highchair that includes asection of interlocking elements that engage a complimentary surface onthe eating utensils and toys that permits removably securing the eatingutensil or toy to the tray surface. Yet another example of a prior arthighchair is U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,800 that discloses a highchair traythat provides for a positive capture of food containers to preclude thetipping or spilling of the containers by the infant or small childwithin the high chair.

The highchairs of the prior art essentially provide a means to securedishware. Many of the trays are configured to lock a bowl, dish or cupin a secure position on the child's tray to avoid spillage. However,limited options are available for both the dishware and the actualeating utensils that may be used by the infant in the highchair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, thegeneral purpose of the present invention is to provide a presentinvention relates to a highchair that includes a feeding tray withattached utensils and dishware, configured to include all of theadvantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherenttherein.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide ahighchair system wherein the dishware and utensils are fastened to thehighchair tray to prevent spills or messes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a highchair systemwherein the dishware and utensils are detachable from the tray.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a highchairsystem wherein the dishware may be screwed onto, attached with magnetsor snapped into place upon the tray.

To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, ahighchair tray system is described comprising a tray; a plurality ofdishware, where the dishware attaches to the tray for use; a pluralityof utensils, where each utensils includes an opening; and a plurality ofcords, where each cord is attached to the tray at a first end andincludes an attachment at a second end to engage the opening of one ofthe utensils. The cords may detach from the tray. Additionally, thedishware may be detachable from the tray, where the dishware screws on,attaches with magnets or snaps into place during use.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along withthe various features of novelty that characterize the present invention,are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forma part of this present invention. For a better understanding of thepresent invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objectsattained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanyingdrawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be betterunderstood with reference to the following detailed description, claimsand accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of a highchair tray in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 depicts the top of the highchair tray according to the presentinvention depicting the means for securing dishware;

FIG. 3 depicts the bottom of the dishware used in conjunction with thehighchair tray according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of the highchair tray according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 depicts an attachment means for utensils used in conjunction withthe highchair tray according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the highchair and feeding trayaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a highchair that uses attachableaccessories that interconnect to the tray of the highchair. Theattachable accessories include dishware and eating utensils that aresecured in place while the infant consumes their food. Use of thepresent invention helps to prevent spillage and waste that may beassociated with infants consuming meals in the highchair. The presentinvention provides a means for securing dishware onto the tray of thehighchair along with cords that interlock with eating utensils to securethe eating utensils in a suspended position if accidentally dropped fromthe tray by the infant.

With respect to FIG. 1, a top view of a highchair Eating Tray 100 isdepicted. The Eating Tray 100 includes a Tray Surface 20 along withDishware 22 and Utensils 21 a, 21 b. The dishware 22 is secured to theTray Surface 20 as shown in the subsequent drawings. Eating Utensils 21a, 21 b are secured to the Eating Tray 100 through the use of Cords 23a, 23 b. The Cords 23 a, 23 b both include a first end attached to theEating Tray 100 and a second end attached to the Utensils 21 a, 21 b.The second end includes an attachment means that attaches to Opening 27in each respective utensil used by the infant. The Cords 23 a, 23 b maybe made from elastic cord, string, nylon or the like. Additionally, thefirst end of the Cords 23 a, 23 b may be permanently fastened to theEating Tray 100. Alternatively, the Cords 23 a, 23 b may be secured in aremovable fashion wherein snaps, hook and loop fasteners (commonly knownas Velcro®), or magnets are utilized.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the Tray 20 with the Dishware 22 removedand exposes a locking Means 30. FIG. 3 depicts the bottom of Dishware 22used in conjunction with Tray 20 according to the present invention.Dishware 22 includes an attachment Means 26 along the bottom surfacethereof. The attachment Means 26 engages the locking Means 30 of theTray Surface 20. The attachment Means 26 and locking Means 30 may fastentogether as a threaded device, wherein the threaded attachment Means 26of the Dishware 22 screws onto place against a complementary threadedlocking Means 30. Alternatively, the attachment means 26 and the lockingMeans 30 may be opposing magnets. Finally, the attachment Means 26 andthe locking means 30 may snap and lock devices to attach the Dishware 22to the Tray Surface 20.

FIG. 4 depicts a view of the bottom surface of the Tray 20 that includesa Release Means 32. The Release Means 32 provides a means to release theDishware 22 from a locked position on the Tray 20. The Release Means 32may be a lever that when presses lifts the Dishware 22 from the TraySurface 20. Alternatively, the Release Means 32 may be a button thatwhen pressed unlocks the Dishware from the Tray Surface 20.

FIG. 5 depicts Tray 20, which depicts the Cord 23 attached to the edgeof the tray. The Cord 23 is secured to the tray at the first end and atthe second end, the Attachment Means 33 is provided. The AttachmentMeans 33 includes two separated end points that engage with the Opening29A or Opening 29B shown on Utensils 21A, 21B. These end points snapinto the opening provided on the utensils and secure the respectiveutensil to the Cord 23. These end points may include snaps, magnets,Velcro® or the like to fasten the ends to each other. During use theutensils are secured to cords similar to Cord 23 and therefore areprevented from falling to the ground during use.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of a highchair in accordance with thepresent invention. It shows the highchair includes a Back Rest 42 anddepicts the tray engaged onto the highchair. Dangling from the highchairis Cord Sets 44, 46 that provide for attachment of a plurality ofutensils for use by the infant in the highchair. A dish may be engagedon the Tray 20 and any utensils provided are secured through the cordsystem of the highchair according to the present invention.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order tobest explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplication, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe invention and various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

1. A highchair tray system comprising: a. a tray, where the tray includea locking means and a release means; b. a plurality of dishware, wherethe dishware engages the locking means for use; c. a plurality ofutensils, where each utensils includes an opening; and d. a plurality ofcords, where each cord is attached to the tray at a first end andincludes an attachment means at a second end to engage the opening ofone of the utensils.
 2. The highchair tray system according to claim 1,wherein the first end of the plurality of cords is detachable.
 3. Thehighchair tray system according to claim 2, wherein the detachable firstend includes one of at least a snap, Velcro® and magnets.
 4. Thehighchair tray system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality ofdishware includes an attachment means to secure the dishware to thelocking means of the tray.
 5. The highchair tray system according toclaim 4, wherein the attachment means and the locking means arecomplimentary threaded devices to screw the dishware to the tray.
 6. Thehighchair tray system according to claim 4, wherein the attachment meansand the locking means are magnetic.
 7. The highchair tray systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the attachment means and the locking meansare snap and lock devices.
 8. The highchair tray system according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of cords are made from one of at leastelastic, nylon and string.
 9. The highchair tray system according toclaim 1, wherein the attachment means of the plurality of cords includesa pair of end points, where the end points include one of at least asnap, Velcro® and magnet.